Moves: Anand vs Carlsen, Game 1, World Chess Championship

November 09, 2013 20:26 IST

The moves in the first game of the FIDE World Chess Championship match between India's Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen of Norway in Chennai, on Saturday:

1. Nf3 d5

2. g3 (The Reti opening. Anand jokingly said after the game that he knew Nf3 d5. g3 is Reti and after that he did not know what it was!). g6 (With this move, Anand shows that he is ready to face Carlsen in a position close to a Grunfeld defense or the fianchetto Grunfeld itself. It may be recalled that Anish Giri of Holland had beaten Carlsen in the 'g3' Grunfeld in 2011 as black. Anand seems to be taking a cue here, while at the same time, this opening has been a part of the world champion's arsenal for quite some time now.}

4. d4 (Grunfeld it is. Open or closed) c6 (A tricky move. Anand was probably thinking about taking on c4 if white played it now. A normal 4...Nf6 would have led to some theoretical analysis).

5. O-O Nf6

6. b3 (A real surprise for the commentators and the followers of the game. Carlsen is aiming for a dull position that fits his style). O-O

7. Bb2 Bf5

8. c4 Nbd7 (Black has developed rather well and in quick time. There is no problem as the rooks are now going to be connected soon. Black is fine across the board).

9. Nc3 dxc4 (This move is not new and it's hard to say if Anand had it as part of his preparation. However, this is typically anti-Carlsen position. Anand enthuses new life in the position with this exchange).

10. bxc4 Nb6 (Carlsen said around here 'white had no chances already'. In his own words, he decided to apply "emergency breaks").

11. c5 Nc4

12. Bc1 Nd5 (The first new move in the game. Anand did not think too long for this. There are some tactical things that white has to attend now).

13. Qb3 Na5 (In the post game conference Anand said he contemplated playing b5 but found that to be quite ok for white).

14. Qa3 Nc4

15. Qb3 (The chess world was abuzz that they are repeating moves). Na5

16. Qa3 Nc4 (Draw agreed. The first game ends in 16 moves. Carlsen's first strategy is out and it did not work so well. However, as both said, its a long match! Before he gets white again, Carlsen has to play a black game against Anand on Sunday).